BREAKING NEWS: Baltimore Orioles Pitcher Charlie Morton is the odd man out ….
Breaking: Orioles Shake Up Rotation – Charlie Morton the Odd Man Out
The Baltimore Orioles have officially moved 41-year-old veteran Charlie Morton out of the starting rotation, making him the unexpected “odd man out” amidst their ongoing pitching shake-up following a tumultuous start to 2025.
🔍 What Happened?
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Manager Brandon Hyde confirmed on April 30 that Morton, who signed a one-year, $15 million deal in January, will now pitch primarily from the bullpen for the time bein
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This decision comes after seven appearances (five starts), during which Morton went 0‑6 with a brutal 9.45 ERA, led the league in walks, and allowed six homers—signaling serious performance concerns his first seven outings, and has seen his WHIP balloon to over 2.00
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His issue isn’t just results — despite maintaining his usual fastball and curveball velocity, opponents are making hard contact at an alarming rate, with a 47.7% hard-hit rate and nearly a 4 mps average exit velocity
🧭 Why “Odd Man Out”?
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The Orioles have bolstered their rotation with options like Tomoyuki Sugano, Kyle Gibson, Dean Kremer, and have even experimented with openers like Keegan Akin. All signs point to Morton as the first casualty of the rotation shuffle
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The move aims to reduce his innings burden, giving him a chance to recalibrate while the team tries to stabilize its overall pitching staff.
🛠 What’s Next?
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Morton has made a few relief appearances, offering a window to regain command and confidence
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while the club hasn’t ruled out a return to starting duties, the door currently seems closed unless he shows significant improvement.
📊 Team Context
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Baltimore’s rotation has struggled collectively, and this move reflects a broader strategy shift as the franchise attempts to stop the bleeding in a season that began poorly
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With a disappointing ERA and overall rotation instability, the O’s are passing the ball to younger arms and leveraging bullpen depth.
📝 In Summary:
Charlie Morton—an 18-year veteran, two-time All-Star, and two-time World Series champ—is now officially the odd man out of Baltimore’s starting rotation. Demoted to the bullpen to potentially regain control, he’ll hit the mound in shorter stints as the Orioles pursue consistency from the mound.
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